The choke cherries, those that remain from July’s crop, are softening, ripening and turning sweet with the cold.

That is the work of temperature, bacteria and yeast. Look, more closely, though:

Is each of those not stung by a fly, and therefore, perhaps, housing a worm? It looks like it. It also looks like the birds who ate the other fruits in these grape-like clusters left just these. Were the others sweeter? Did the others ripen earlier? I’d think the birds would have appreciated the bonus of a worm, but it seems that something else is going on. Could it be, somehow, that choke cherries, and birds, gain resilience and the ability to survive over time because of these worms, then? With seeds surviving the summer feeding for later dispersal, and thus catching two seasons for planting, instead of just one? Or does this cold, aerial environment change the cold requirements of the seeds, allowing for different germination times? Might that be useful over time? And how is it useful for the flies? Does it help them, too? bI dunno. I’ll keep watching. I’ll say one thing. The cherries are starting to taste quite fine. I noticed no worms.